Rotator



Aug. 24, 1954 Filed Nov. 9, 1950 FQ WEISS ETAL ROTATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet lATTORNEY.

Aug. 24, 1954 F. WEISS ETAL ROTATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 9, 1950FIG 2 A INVENTORS.

FELIX WEI y JOSEPH F. SE LD A ORNEY Patented Aug. 24, 1954 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE ROTATIOR Felix Weiss, Brookline, Mass., and Joseph F.Seybold, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to Cornell- Dubilier ElectricCorporation, South Plainfield, N. J., a corporation of DelawareApplication November 9, 1950, Serial No. 194,896

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a rotator for carrying a variable-directionantenna or the like, and more particularly to such a rotator for outdooruse and which includes a bottom plate and a cover, one being rotatable,the other being sta-- tionary. The bottom plate carries a ring which hasexternal races for upper and lower layers of balls. A strap holds clipsaround the circumference of the rings, and the clips hold the ballsagainst the races and separated from each other. The cover has aninternal race which engages the upper layer of balls, and fastened tothe underside of the cover is a retaining ring which has aninternal racewhich engages the lower layer of balls. The inner edge of the retainingring is in close-fitting, sliding relationship with the bottom plate,providing an effective seal against entry of water, dirt, etc., into thespace between the bottom plate and the cover, which space may contain anelectric motor and gears for rotating the cover.

The rotator of the invention is freely rotatable, simple of constructionand requires little or no servicing.

Furthermore, it is almost impossible for water, dirt or the like toenter the space between the bottom plate and. the cover, since aneffective seal against such an occurrence is provided.

It is therefore an important object of the invention to providea rotatorwhose moving parts and electrical connections are effectively isolatedfrom Water, dirt or the like.

It is another object to provide a rotator which requires little or noservicing.

It is a further object to provide a rotator of simple, inexpensiveconstruction.

Further objects and advantages will appear in connection with thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a rotator embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2--2 of Fi 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view showing details of the mounting of one pair ofballs;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Like reference numerals designate like parts in the various views.

The rotator illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is a mounting for avariable-direction television antenna (not shown), and comprises aball-bearing assembly, indicated generally at 6, mounted between alower, vertical antenna mast support 8 and an upper, vertical mastsupport ID, the bottom of which flares out to form a bell-shaped casing20, which is the cover referred to above. A retaining ring 52 is rigidlyattached to the underside of the casing 20.

The cover 20, the lower portion of which terminates in a horizontalcircular surface, defines a. bell-shaped chamber 2|, in which. are themoving parts of the ball-bearing assembly 6.

The upper mast support i 0 is adapted to carry the antenna by means ofnuts l6, bolts I8 and clamps (not shown).

The ball-bearing assembly 6 comprises generally a base portion 22, whichis the bottom plate referred to above, a ring 28, upper and lowerexternal ball races 30 and 32, respectively, balls 34 and 36, a strap 38and a plurality of clips 40.

The base portion 22 is. mounted in fixed, nonrotatable position upon aplatform 24 atop the mast support 8 which is adapted to be rigidlyaffixed to a base (not shown) by means of a nut l2 and a bolt I4. Thebottom plate 22 is a saucer-like disc with a vertical axis 26 andupwardly-bent sides 21. A rim 29 having a horizontal lower surface 3| isintegral with the tops of the sides 21. A ring 28 having the axis 26 isintegral with the outer circumference of the rim 29.

The ring 28 has upper and lower external ball races 30 and 32 (see Figs.3 and 4), respectively, in its upper and lower outer corners.

The balls 34 are evenly distributed around the upper race 30, and theballs 38 are evenly distributed around the lower race 32. The balls 36in the illustrated rotator are in a one-to-one relationship with theballs 34, one ball 35 being directly beneath each of the balls 34. Inthe illustrated bearing assembly 6 there are six balls 34 and six balls36. Obviously, there may be any number, and it is contemplated that.there may be more or less balls 34 than balls 36.

The strap 38 encircles the ring 28 circumferentially and is in loose,sliding relationship therewith. The ends of the strap 38 are joinedtogether by any suitable means, an example of which is illustrated inFig. 2 at 42.

The clips 40 are mounted upon the strap 38 as is best illustrated inFigs. 3 and 4, being equally spaced around its circumference. Theillustrated clip mounting may be described as follows: Two parallelcircumferential slits 44 are cut in the strap 38, and the portions ofthe strap 38 between the slits 44 are formed bridgelike outward.

The central portion of the clip is cut away, except for a tab 45, whichis inserted into one of the slits 44.

Each clip 45 is provided with four bent prongs 48, two extending beyondone side of the strap 38 and two extending beyond the other side. Spaceis provided between said first two prongs 48 for one of the balls 34;likewise, space is provided between said second two prongs 48 for thecorresponding ball 38.

Thus it will be seen that the clips 48 provide cages for holding theballs 34 and 36 loosely against, and evenly spaced around, theirrespective races 30 and 32.

The bell-shaped casing 20 is provided near its bottom with an internalcircular track or race 58 of the same diameter as the race 30, so thatthe mast support It is supported by the balls 34, and can easily turnthereon.

The retaining ring 52 is rigidly attached by screws 55 to the horizontalcircular surfaceof the cover 28-, to form a joint through which water,dirt, etc, cannot pass; The ring 52 is provided with an internal,circular track or race, d of the same diameter as the race 32, theinternal race 54 engaging the balls 36.

The inward portion of the retaining ring 52 is bent upwardly so as toprovide a close-fitting,

, horizontal, sliding contact between itself and the lower surface 3| ofthe annulus 29. A felt gasket (not shown) may be interposed between thering 52 and the lower surface 3|.

Thus the design is such that it is almost impossible for water, dirt,etc., to gain access to the races 30, 32, 50 and 54, to the balls 34 and38, to the gears (to be described), and to any electrical connections(to be described) which may be present. This is because of the tortuouspath that such foreign matter would have to follow to get into the spacebetween the base plate 22 and the cover 20.

The remainder of the construction provides the following means forautomatically rotating the upper mast support H] in either directionabout the axis 25 of the assembly 6.

A reversible electric motor 54 within the bellshaped chamber 2i has-itsshaft parallel to the axis 25 of the ball-bearing assembly 6, and isconnected to drive a gear train, indicated generally at 55. An internalgear 58 is mounted in a circular recess 60 in the base portion of theassembly 6, and is engaged by the gear train 56. Only a part of theinternal gear 58 is shown in Fig. 2.

The motor '54 is fixedly mounted by screws and bolts to a motor mountplate Til, The plate T0 is mounted upon motor mount studs 12 which arecast into the base 22 of the rotator. It will thus be seen that themotor 54 is fixedly mounted to the base 22 of the rotator.

Three bosses (not shown) are equally spaced around the top of the gearring 58 and engage recesses (not shown) molded into the cover of therotator.

Electrical connections (not shown) are inserted through an opening 52 inthe base portion 22 of the assembly 6. A cover plate 54 keeps water,etc., away from the electrical connections.

In operation, when it is desired to rotate the antenna, a switch (notshown) which is connected via the above mentioned connections is closedto start the motor 54 in the desired direction. Thus the motor 54,firmly attached to the base 22, rotates the internal gear 58 through thegear train 56. The internal gear 58 being secured to the upper part ofthe antenna carrying mounting by the three bosses engaging thecorresponding recesses thus rotates the antenna carrying mountingincluding the upper mast support l0 until the antenna is in the desiredposition. At this time the switch is opened to stop the motor 54.

Man modifications, substitutions and equivalents will be apparent tothose skilled in the art, and we do not limit ourselves to the detailshereinabove set forth except as defined by the following claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A rotator for carrying a variable-direction antenna and the like,comprising: a bottom plate having an axis and including a base portionwith upturned sides, a rim having a bottom surface and mounted atop saidsides, a circular ring encircling said rim and having upper and lowersurfaces, external ball races formed in the ring at the juncture of saidupper and lower surfaces with the periphery of the ring, a layer ofballs in said upper external race, a layer of balls in said lowerexternal race in a one-to-one relationship with the balls in said upperrace; a ball retainer and spacer including a strap encircling said ringand a plurality of clips secured in their central portions to said strapand spaced around the circumference thereof, said clips overlapping saidexternal races for holding said balls against, and evenly spaced around,said races; a cover having an internal race which is supported by theballs in said upper external race, said cover having a lower surface; aretaining ring including an upper outer surface, an inner surface and aninternal race which engages the balls in said lower external race, theinner portion of said retaining ring being turned upward so that saidinner surface is in close-fitting, sliding contact with the bottomsurface of said rim, forming therewith an effective seal against thepassage therethrough of water, dirt and the like; means rigidly joiningthe upper outer surface of said retaining ring to the lower surface ofsaid cover; and means for rotating said cover about said axis to anyselected position.

2. A rotator for carrying a variable-direction antenna and the like,comprising, a bottom plate member having an axis and including acircular ring having external annular ball races, formed in the upperand lower surfaces of the ring, balls in said races, means extendingbetween the races in the upper and lower surfaces for holding said ballsagainst and spaced around said external races, a cover member having aninternal race for engaging the balls in said upper external race, forsupporting said cover, said cover having a lower portion extending belowsaid internal race and encompassing the ring of the bottom plate, aretaining ring adapted to be removably fixed to said lower portion ofthe cover member, said retaining ring having an internal race formed toengage the balls in the external race on the lower surface of the ringof the bottom plate, and means for rotating one of said members aboutsaid axis.

3. A rotator for carrying a variable-direction antenna and the like,comprising, a bottom plate having an axis and including a circular ringhaving external ball races formed around its peripheral circumference atthe juncture of the upper and lower surfaces of said ring with saidperipheral circumference, balls in each of said races, means extendingfrom the race in the upper surface to the race in the lower surface forholding said balls against and spaced around said external races, acover having an internal race by which said cover is supported by theballs in the upper external race, a retaining ring having an internalrace which engages the balls in said lower external race and meansbetween said bottom plate and said cover for rotating said cover aboutsaid axis.

4. A rotator for carrying a variable-direction antenna and the like,comprising, a bottom plate having an axis and including a circular ringhaving upper and lower surfaces around its circumference, upper andlower external ball races formed in said surfaces, balls in each of saidexternal races, the balls in said lower external race being in aone-to-one relationship with the balls in said upper race, a ballretainer and spacer including a strap encircling said ring and aplurality of clips secured in their central portions to said strap andspaced around the circumference thereof, said clips overlapping saidexternal races for holding said balls against and evenly spaced aroundsaid races, a cover having an internal race which is supported by theballs in said upper external race, a retaining ring having an internalrace which engages the balls in said lower external race, and means forrotating said cover about said axis.

5. A rotator for carrying a variable-direction antenna and the like,comprising, a bottom plate member having an axis and including a baseportion, a circular ring therearound, and a race around said ring, ballsin said race, a cover member supported by the balls in said race, saidcover extending below said race and freely encompassing said circularring, a retaining ring having a portion thereof joined to said cover andextending radially inward and upward with respect to said axis,andhaving an inner portion in closefitting, sliding contact with theunder side of said,

circular ring, forming therewith an efiective seal against the passagetherethrough of water, dirt and the like, and means for rotating one ofsaid members about said axis.

6. A rotator for carrying a variable-direction antenna and the like,comprising, a bottom plate having an axis and including a base portionwith upturned sides, a rim having a bottom surface and mounted atop saidsides, a circular ring encircling said rim, and upper and lower externalball races around said ring, balls in said external races, a covermember having an internal race for engaging the balls in said upperexternal race, for supporting said cover, whereby the cover is freelyrotatable about said axis, said cover having a lower portion extendingbelow said internal race and terminating in a lower surface, a retainingring including an outer portion adapted to be removably fixed tosaidlower surface of the cover, said retaining ring having an internal raceformed to engage the balls in the external race on the lower surface,and said retaining ring having an inner portion extending radiallyinward with respect to the axis, the inner portion of said retainingring being turned upward so that said inner portion is in close-fitting,sliding contact with the bottom surface of said rim, forming therewithan effective seal against the passage therethrough of water, dirt andthe like, and means for rotating said cover about said axis to anyselected position.

'7. A rotator for carrying a variable-direction antenna and the like,comprising, a bottom plate member having an axis and including acircular ring having external annular ball races, formed in the upperand lower surfaces of the ring, balls in said races, means extendingbetween the races in the upper and lower surfaces for holding said ballsagainst and spaced around said external races, a cover member having aninternal race for engaging the balls in said upper external race, forsupporting said cover, said cover having a lower portion extending belowsaid internal race and loosely surrounding the ring of the bottom plate,a retaining ring which has an outer portion adapted to be removablyfixed to said lower portion of the cover member, said retaining ringhaving an internal race formed to engage the balls in the external raceon the lower surface of the first mentioned ring, said retaining ringextending inward radially and terminating in an inner portion inclose-fitting, sliding contact with said base portion, forming therewithan effective seal against the passage therethrough of water, dirt andthe like, and means for rotating either of said members about said axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 722,036 Norton Mar. 3, 1903 2,512,682 Salinger June 27, 1950

